1925-05-30 Paul Berlenbach w pts 15 Mike McTigue, Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NYC, New York, USA - USA/GB. Referee: Ed Purdy. Defending his title for only the third time in a decision fight, McTigue (170½) disappointed against the crude Berlenbach (170½), when allowing the ex-wrestler too much room. Despite hurting Berlenbach with trip-hammer rights to the jaw in the sixth and seventh rounds McTigue was strangely lethargic, while his opponent, with just 27 contests under his belt, came through strongly to land the unanimous decision. From round three through the fifth McTigue boxed cannily as Berlenbach threatened with heavy blows from both hands, but from the eighth onwards he was unable to muster an offensive, spending much of his time avoiding punches coming his way. The ex-champion finished with a badly cut left eye and with the knowledge that he could have done better.

Although the winner of McTigue v Berlenbach was initially committed to defending against Gene Tunney, the American champion, following a brilliant win over Tommy Gibbons (w co 12 on 5 June at the Polo Grounds, Manhattan, NYC) Tunney relinquished his title to concentrate on winning the heavyweight crown, having become Jack Dempsey’s leading challenger after Harry Wills.

At its conference in early July, the membership of the IBU continued to boycott an American designated world light heavyweight champion until whoever deigned to defend against the European titleholder, Louis Clement.